World's End by Erica Verrillo

Author:Erica Verrillo [Verrillo, Erica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-375-85389-0
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2009-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

It had been relatively easy to hide Elissa among the members of the expedition. She was wrapped in so many garments that nobody could possibly have guessed who she was. Boots and thick wool pants encased her lower half, while a bulky fur-lined anorak with a deep hood and a spacious front pocket obscured her upper body. Sweetheart was particularly pleased with the hood. No sooner had Elissa put on the anorak than he had crept blissfully into its warm, furry interior.

When no one was looking, Elissa carefully tucked her little pouch containing the shard beneath her undershirt, keeping it close to her heart. She’d learned a lesson from her previous mistake in Alhamazar, and even though none of these people looked like thieves, she didn’t want any of them thinking she carried a money purse.

The leader, whose name turned out to be Griff, gave her a large pack, into which she placed her meager possessions: her skirt and brown cloak, which she rolled up into a tight ball; the monk’s hood; her comb and undergarments; the fibula Sohar had given her at the Great Oasis; and finally, her gloves and face mask, along with kindling and some food. Everyone carried kindling and food, even the leader.

After she’d finished packing, Elissa regarded the small canvas bag she’d brought with her. It was now empty, except for the map of the world she had taken from the library. Surely the map would be ruined if she simply shoved it into her pack, where it would jostle against all the other supplies. She decided to wrap the sturdy canvas bag around the rolled-up map, tucking the cloth securely around the two ends. Then she carefully placed the bundle among her clothing so it wouldn’t get crushed.

That should do it, she thought. Every explorer needs a map, especially on her first trip into the unknown.

As Griff frequently pointed out, this trip into the unknown was going to be particularly difficult and dangerous. They were going to scale the highest peak of the Great Circle.

“You are mad,” he had told Elissa after she had repeated her desire to go to the Great Circle.

“I’ve heard that before,” she replied. “Recently, in fact.”

Griff snorted, unimpressed. “Well, you’ll never make it. But I’ll take your money.”

The leader had been true to his word. Elissa’s request was granted, but it came with a price. A gold piece. Fortunately, Elissa had one coin left in the hem of her brown cloak. Gold was a lot to ask, as Griff well knew, but expeditions of this type were exorbitantly expensive. Everything had to be hauled up the mountain—food, kindling, shelter—and the six porters who were to accompany them to the top demanded ample compensation. The payment, made in advance, was intended to support the porters’ families in case they died en route—which, regrettably, was all too likely. The winds that howled around the Great Circle were strong enough to blow a man clear off the face of the earth.

Elissa thought

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